This is Hiei's story, yet again, but this time I tried to fill in some holes where there are some in the show and manga. It's also intertwined with Yukina's story, which we don't hear much about. I hope you enjoy!

"I'm sorry," Rui said sadly to Hiei as she held him in her arms over the looming cliff.

"Do not pity the beast," the elder said angrily.

"I beg of you Rui, don't do it!" Hina pleaded as she tried to get closer. The women holding her back didn't losen their grip.

Rui pulled Hina's tearstone necklace out of her kimono and said, "When you come back to give us the death we all deserve, kill me first. It's the least I can do, for attonement for what I'm about to do." She outstretched her arms and dropped infant Hiei to the ground below as Hina screamed out in agony.

Hiei held his breath and he landed in an icy river below. His own heat energy kept him warm but it was a matter of hours before the river slowed enough for him to make it to a beachy shore. A grown man sat along the shore, washing clothes.

Not being able to talk, Hiei screamed and waved his tearstone necklace he was holding on for dear life. "A baby?" the man said, "Not my problem. Whoa, hey." He looked closer at him, "What's that thing? Where did you get something like that?" He tried to take it from Hiei's hand but he didn't let go. "I guess it's yours," the man added.

He picked Hiei up and carried him back to the campsite. "Boss," he said, "hey boss, check this out."

"Since when has your dirty laundry had anything to do with me?" a large and buff man demanded.

"It's a baby," he said, holding Hiei closer to the boss.

"What am I supposed to do with that?" the boss asked.

"Take a closer look," he urged.

"What do you have there?" the boss asked as he tried to pull the necklace out of Hiei's hand. Hiei bit him hard.

"You have sharp teeth for a runt!" he shouted as he pulled back.

I survived, Hiei thought to himself, maybe this won't be as bad as I thought. I'll go back and kill you Rui, and all of those other horrible women, one day.

Yukina bolted upright as she woke up from yet another nightmare. She looked around her bare and cold room in the darkness and found no comfort. "Mom," she said as she stood up and walked through the small hut, "Mom, are you awake." She walked into the kitchen area and saw her mother sitting there as usual. Her eyes wide open and tears slowly falling to the ground like normal. "Mom," she said.

"Oh, Yukina," she said emotionally, "what's the matter?"

"I had that nightmare again," Yukina said as she walked up to her mother and leaned onto her lap, "the one where someone's taking my fire away from me and I can't stop them."

Hina picked her up and put her in her lap. "There wasn't anything I could do," Hina whispered, "I'm sorry. I never should have come back here."

"Are you talking nonsense again?" Yukina asked as she saw her mother cry some more.

"It's not nonsense," Hina said slowly, "it was real. He was real and in my arms and now..."

"What are you talking about now?" Yukina asked, completely lost. Rui says this happens all the time, she thought to herself, maybe something's wrong with her.